Life-saving apparatus.



B. TRAVAGLIA.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20.1914.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

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LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1914.

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Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

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1 IEFIfii Y LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, BARTOL TRAVAGLIA, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Campello, county of Plymouth, Commonwealth of li Iassachusettts, have invented an Improvement in Life-Saving Apparatus, of which the following description, in connec tion with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views.

This invention relates to life saving apparatus and particularly to life saving floats into which persons may be received incase of disaster at sea and which will be secure against danger of sinking until picked up by succoring ships.

In accordance with my invention I form float structures adapted to be effectively closed against the entrance of water and having provision to insure a suflicient supply of air for the inmates notwithstanding the possible tossing about of the float on the waves. a

In accordance with one form of my invention I provide ballasting means adapted to keep the float substantially upright, or to quickly right it after being tilted.

In accordance with another form of the invention I construct the float so that it is equally habitable and sea-worthy either side up so that even if it turns over, the inmates experience no other discomfort than being transferred from one side of the float to the opposite one. 7

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and will thereafter be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 shows in a vertical section one form of my invention; and Fig. 2 shows in vertical sec- 7 tion another form thereof Referring to theform shown in Fig. l the body 10 of the float is shown as of a fiattened pear shape in verticalsection and is preferably circular or approximately so in horizontal section. I attach to this body 21. depending portion 11 at the bottom of which is carried a ballast weight or filling 12. body of the float may be constituted of a wooden frame work 13 with a cork or other covering 14; thereover and an outer shell or Specification of Letters Patent. -Patenfl5d Aug, 31, 1915 Application filed April 20, 191 seriarnassaoee. I i

skin of suitable material such as rubber canvas or metal 15. I showthe top of the depending portion 11 covered with a floor 16, and the entrance opening at the drawn-in top ofthebodyis adapted to be closed by a removable closure 17; it being understood that it is through this opening that persons enter the float,and that the'closure"17 is then fitted and made secure in any suitable manner. Aside opening 18 closed by suitable transparent material is provided, so that persons within the float can make observations as to their surroundings.

As a means for obtaining ventilation with in the float while at the same time prevent ing ingress of water thereto, I provide pipe conduits 19 shown as two in number, and each having one branch 19 extending straight upward through the float wall to some distance" thereabove, and another branch l9 extending diagonally upward within the float from the junction point of the branch 19, the branches 19 being perforated as at 20 for the dissemination of air therefrom. The lower portion of thesepipes extend downv into the depending extension 11 as seen 511121 so thatfin case'the float.

should tilt over or waves dash some water in the branches 19 it will'run on down through the pipe extensions 21 into the depending extension 11 of the float from whence it with an outlet 23 without the extension 11, and an operating handle 24 extending up through the floor 16. Thus it will be ob served that an adequate supply of air is always'birculated into the float through thebranches 19 extending diagonally upward serving to lntroduce within the float, thus adequate amounts of air without liability of permitting the entrance of water.

Referring now to theform shown in Fig 2, the float shell in this case is shown as of a general boat-like contour, being in shape practically that of two boats one placed over ,85 may be pumped out by a suitable pump 22 pipes 19 the other as indicated at 27, 28, as a closure quickly righted the other side up, with no serious inconvenience to the inmates. In

this 'formI- show sight openings 29, .80,

closed by glass or other transparent material at both sides of the float so that one may be 7 used whichever side up the float is disposed,

A third intermediate sight opening 31 is shown near the other end of the'float. In

this form of the invention I show inlet pipes 32, 33 similarly mounted to pro ect upand downward from the central portion of the floatwith air disseminating perforated branch pipes 34,35 extending diagonally from the pipes 32, 83 outward toward the adjacent shell of thefloat, so that one set of these pipes is always operative to furnish air no matter which side up the float may be. be provided in the pipes 32, 33, so that the one of these pipes which happens to be proecting downward can be closed to prevent the influx of water.

As a means for pumpingout any water that may enter through the air inlet pipe which is in service and projecting upward, I connect to the inner endsof these pipes, pipe/connections which may be hose as indicated at 37, leading. to the inlet end of a discharging'pump 38 which is adapted to discharge the water through an outlet 39. r r. i

'It is to be observed that both forms of my invention are simple in construction and that there is no mechanism interior of the float to get out of order or cause trouble by possible breakage. Further that the floats" 1 are so constructed that they may carry persons fora considerable period, if necessary, in perfect security until they are sighted and picked up. [In practice, any convenient or desired means may be employed to project the floats away from the danger zone near a sinking ship but this means forms no'part of the'present invention and is therefore not herein shown. V

I desire the present embodiment to be considered' as illustrative and not restrictive, and the proportions and relative arrangement of parts in detail is also merely intended to typify any suitable arrangement in these respects adapted to carry out the essential attributes of the invention. I there- I fore refer to.the appended claims rather than'to the foregoing description to indicats the scope ofthe invention.

Having described my invention, what I Suitable valve cocks 36'may' V I V 1,152,242

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. Life saving apparatus, comprising a normally closed float having provision to receive inmates, and equipped with a depending extension carrying a ballast weight and having a hollow portion closed off from the body of thefloat, and air inlet means comprising a pipe having one branch extending upward from within the float a substantial distance thereabove and another branch extending diagonally upward within the float with openings therein, said branches joining a substantial distance below the top of the float, and a pipe conduit leading downward from said branches to the hollow portion of said depending extension for the purpose stated.

2. Life saving apparatus, comprising a normally closed float having provision to receive inmates, and equipped with a depending extension carrying a ballast weight and having a hollow portion closed off from the body of the float, air inlet means comprising a pipehaving one branch extending upward from within the float a substantial distance thereabove and another branch extending diagonally upward within the float with openings therein, said branches joining a substantial distance below the top of the float, and a pipe conduit leading downward from said branches to the hollow portion of said depending extension for the purpose stated, and a pump for removing water from the hollow portion of said depending extension.

3. Life saving apparatus, comprising a float of flattened pear shape with an entrance opening at its top equipped with a removable closure and a depending extension having a hollow portion closed off from the body of the float, air inlet means comprising a pipe having one branch extending upward from within the float to a substantial distance thereabove, and another branch extending diagonally upward from the first named branch a substantial distance below the top of the float, the latter branch. being perforated, and a pipe conduitleading downward from the junction of said branches and emptying into the hollow portion of said depending extension for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

. ARTOL TRAVAGLIA.

Witnesses:

, LoUrsn A. JORDAN, CLYDE L. Rooms.

7 qopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' 7 Washington, D. C. 

